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Nucleus
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Nucleus outline
BIOLOGY

WRITTEN BY: The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica

LAST UPDATED: 7-20-1998

Nucleus, in biology, a specialized structure occurring in most cells (except

bacteria and blue-green algae) and separated from the rest of the cell by a
double layer, the nuclear membrane. This membrane seems to be
continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (a membranous network) of
the cell and has pores, which probably permit the entrance of large
molecules. The nucleus controls and regulates the activities of the cell (e.g.,
growth and metabolism) and carries the genes, structures that contain the
hereditary information. Nucleoli are small bodies often seen within the
nucleus; they play an important part in the synthesis of ribonucleic acid ...
(100 of 183 words)

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IN THE NEWS SPOTLIGHT DEMYSTIFIED QUIZZES GALLERIES LISTS ON THIS DAY

Nucleus
BIOLOGY Media

A micrograph of animal cells, showing the nucleus (stained dark red) of each cell.
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2017 Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc.
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18/3/2017 nucleus|biology|Britannica.com
2017 Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc.
IN THE NEWS SPOTLIGHT DEMYSTIFIED QUIZZES GALLERIES LISTS ON THIS DAY

Nucleus
BIOLOGY Media

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